Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Real Time Conference Call Highlights

The biggest bout in recent years featuring a pair of female fighters is less than two weeks from taking place and both participants have been on fire as of late, taking shots at each other through the media while showing a level of intensity/desire unmatched by many of their peers.

With March 3 looming, Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and unbeaten contender Ronda Rousey will face off over the phone today before things get physical as part of a conference call with media where they’ll discuss their headlining title-fight. They will also be joined by Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and lightweights K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson, also set to scrap on the Showtime broadcast.

As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be on the line when things start up at 1:00 PM EST and reporting highlights/soundbytes back to readers as they unfold in real time.

See what all of the involved parties had to say below…

Ronda Rousey:

– Says that she and Tate look like “warrior princesses”
– Thinks judo is the best mode of grappling when it comes to clinching and transitioning into submissions
– One of her goals when she got into MMA was not just to promote the women’s side of the sport but judo
– Created her rivalry with Tate because “I have enough friends, I needed a few enemies” / It’s not personal to her but understands why Tate doesn’t like her
– Enjoys that she’s doing a conference call instead of having to go anywhere based on how busy she’s been lately
– Felt obligated to promote the fight as best as possible, refers to her life a year ago when she worked three years
– “I knew I could win a title the day that I started.”

Miesha Tate:

– Has no problem embracing the sex appeal aspect of their fight though “first and foremost we’re fighters”
– Thinks fighters should get title-shots based on wins not words
– Still doesn’t believe Rousey is “as deserving” as Sarah Kaufman or Alexis Davis
– Says she’s had to do more promotion for this fight than any in the past but is comfortable with the process
– Focused on implementing her gameplan rather than being worried about Rousey’s attack
– Doesn’t see Rousey as a “one trick pony” and is prepared for “anything and everything”
– Is training for the finish but could see it being a very competitive fight and is prepared to go five hard rounds
– Says Rousey is more talk than walk and breaks eye-contact with her when they’ve faced off in the past
– Believes Rousey’s inexperience will work against her and doesn’t feel she’s a real fighter yet
– “It’s gonna be a gamechanger when she finally eats some leather this time.”
– Sees there being added pressure on women in MMA because of how little exposure they get and thinks a lot is riding on their shoulders at the event

Josh Thomson:

– Admits he’s a little nervous after the long layoff but is excited about fighting a guy like Noons
– Says he’s looked and felt better in the gym than he has in years
– Wants to push the pace and knows he has to be in top shape
– Has been working in the gym with Justin Wilcox and Gray Maynard

K.J. Noons:

– Concentrating on the fight ahead of him instead of thinking about a potential title-shot
– Says he’s going to steal the show

Scott Coker:

– Derek Brunson off card for medical reasons, nothing specific mentioned other than to say it was not serious
– Promotion is looking for a new opponent for Ronaldo Souza who Brunson was expected to face
– Not concerned about Rousey’s experience / “You have to think about the entire scope of the athlete.”